Integrated Container Adapter and Display Tray

ABSTRACT

An integrated contents display and sorting tray adapter assembly that connects to the top of a container or other similar vessel which allows an individual to readily display the contents of the jar, easily reinsert the contents into the jar, and easily and quickly store the jar/adapter assembly in a safe manner.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a contents display adapter that connects tothe top of a container or other similar vessel and more specifically toan adapter that connects to the top of a jar that can readily displaythe contents of the jar when the jar is turned onto its side. Thecontents display adapter allows an individual to quickly andeffortlessly display the contents of a jar or other vessel in thedisplay tray and then equally quickly and effortlessly reinsert thecontents into the jar.

Virtually every American household stores surplus screws, nails, bolts,nuts, tacks, electrical fittings, gaskets, etc. in jars, cans, or othersimilar vessels. When it comes time to look for a certain screw, nail,etc. in one such jar or can, the problem becomes one of quicklyobserving what is contained in such jar, can, etc. Normally, anindividual either roots through the jar or pours the contents onto aflat surface. Once the desired element is found, the issue becomes oneof placing the contents back in the jar. The instant invention presentsa means and method for quickly and effortlessly displaying the contentsof a jar and then equally quickly and effortlessly reinserting thecontents back into the jar. Furthermore, the device presents a means forstoring the jar/adapter assembly in an efficient manner.

The instant invention consists of an adapter and display tray that isattached to the top of a jar, can or other similar vessel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,425 issued to Richard A. Frayer, Sr on Sep. 12, 2000reflects the state of the art with respect to devices used to displayitems from a container. The Frayer device is merely a display andsorting tray that has a funneling area to facilitate reinserting itemsback into a container. The instant device is a significant improvementon the Frayer patent in that it is a totally integrated display,sorting, reinsertion and storage device.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,471 issued to Michael L. and Nancy J. Pinizzotto onNov. 5, 1990 teaches another display and sorting tray with funneladapters for reinsertion. However, the Pinizzotto device is not atotally integrated display, sorting, reinsertion and storage device asis the instant invention.

Neither of the above nor any of the other prior art teaches oranticipates the integrated display, sorting, reinsertion and storageproperties of the instant invention.

None of the patents described in Vest, taken either singly or incombination, are seen to disclose the specific arrangement of conceptsdisclosed by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward an integrated contents displayand sorting tray adapter assembly that connects to the top of acontainer or other similar vessel which allows an individual to readilydisplay the contents of the jar, easily reinsert the contents into thejar, and easily and quickly store the jar/adapter assembly in a safemanner. The present invention will be marketed under the trade name ofJar Caddy™.

While the instant invention is applicable to all types of containersincluding jars, cans, bottles, and cups, for ease of illustration,reference will be made to the adapter/tray assembly in conjunction witha jar with the implicit understanding that the assembly can be used onvirtually any type of similar device.

Virtually every American household stores surplus screws, nails, bolts,nuts, tacks, electrical fittings, gaskets, etc. in jars, cans, or othersimilar vessels stored in a basement, garage, or other similarworkspace. When it comes time to look for a certain screw, nail, etc. inone such jar, the problem becomes one of quickly observing what iscontained in such jar, selecting the item required and then quickly andeffortlessly reinserting the un-needed items into the jar or container.Normally, an individual either forages through the jar or pours thecontents onto a flat surface to find what he or she wants. Once thedesired item is found, the issue becomes one of placing the contentsback in the jar in an expeditious manner. The instant invention presentsa means and method for quickly and effortlessly displaying the contentsof a jar and then equally quickly and effortlessly reinserting thecontents back into the jar. Furthermore, the device presents a means forstoring the jar/adapter assembly in an efficient manner.

The instant invention consists of a display tray adapter that isattached to the top of a jar, can or other similar vessel. The adaptercan be attached to the jar by “screwing” it onto the jar or by attachingit in some other way to jar. In essence, the adapter is a lid of a jarwith a display tray attached to it. The lid of the jar has an opening sothat stored items can be easily poured into the display tray and easilypoured back into the jar.

The present invention represents a significant improvement over theFrayer and Pinizzotto devices in that it is a totally integrateddisplay, reinsertion and storage device.

Referring to the drawings, the present invention is an integrateddisplay, reinsertion and storage device 10 as shown in FIG. 1 that iscomprised of an adapter assembly 60 that is attached to a jar 20 anddisplay tray 30. When the jar/adapter/tray assembly is turned on itsside, screws 40 or other items fall through an opening in the adapter 60into the display tray 30 where they can be easily sorted and the desireditem selected. After the desired item has been selected, thejar/adapter/tray assembly is turned right side up and the items fall/arepoured back into the jar 20.

FIG. 2 shows the adapter/tray 10 device disengaged from the jar 20. Thethreads 50 on the jar 20 and the threads 80 on the adapter/tray 10 arealso shown.

FIG. 3 shows how the jar 20 with the adapter/tray assembly 10 can bestored by suspending it from a shelf on a pegboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the adapter 60 and tray 30 assembly 10 attached to a jar20. When the entire jar/adapter/tray assembly is rotated slightly inexcess of 90 degrees from the vertical, screws, bolts, nails, etc.emerge from the jar 20 through an opening in the adapter 60 and aredeposited in the display tray. The tray width gradually increases thefarther from the jar mouth opening in order to increase the display areaof the tray. When the desired item is selected, the entirejar/adapter/tray assembly is rotated slowly back to the upright positionand the screws, nails, etc. easily and quickly flow back into the jar20. FIG. 1 also show the end 70 of the display tray 30 that is raisedenough to allow the entire jar/adapter/tray assembly to be suspended asshown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 shows the adapter/tray 10 device disengaged from the jar 20. Thethreads 50 on the jar 20 and the corresponding threads 80 on theadapter/tray 10 are also shown.

FIG. 3 shows how the integrated jar/adapter/tray assembly can besuspended from a shelf on a pegboard.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the adapter/tray assembly 10. This view showsthe raised lip 70 of the adapter/tray assembly 10 that allows the entireassembly to be suspended from a shelf lath on a pegboard or similardevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward an integrated contents displayand sorting tray adapter assembly that connects to the top of acontainer or other similar vessel which allows an individual to readilydisplay the contents of the jar, easily reinsert the contents into thejar, and easily and quickly store the jar/adapter/tray assembly in asafe manner.

While the instant invention is applicable to all types of containersincluding jars, cans, bottles, and cups, for ease of illustration,reference will be made to the adapter/tray assembly in conjunction witha jar with the implicit understanding that the assembly can be used onvirtually any type of similar container.

Referring to FIG. 1, the instant invention consists of a display andsorting tray adapter 60 that is attached to the top of a jar, can orother similar vessel. The adapter can be attached to the jar by“screwing” it onto the jar or by attaching it in some other way to jar.FIG. 2 shows the adapter/tray assembly 10 disengaged from the jar 20.FIG. 2 also shows the threading 50 on the jar and the threading 80 onthe adapter. Other means of attaching the adapter to the jar include,but are not limited to, clamping the adapter to the jar, or snapping theadapter onto the jar. In essence, the adapter is a “lid” of a jar with adisplay and sorting tray 30 attached to it. The adapter 60 contains anopening in the “lid” of the jar so that stored items can be easilypoured into the display and sorting tray 30 and easily poured back intothe jar. The size of the opening in the adapter “lid” 60 can vary fromthe entire surface area of the “lid” to approximately half the surfacearea of the “lid”.

When the integrated jar/adapter/tray assembly is in the uprightposition, screws, nails, bolts, etc. are safely and efficiently stored.The adapter/tray assembly 10 is light enough so that the entirejar/adapter/tray assembly is not top heavy. The entire integratedassembly can either stand alone with the bottom of the jar resting on asuitable surface or the entire integrated assembly can be suspended froma shelf or wooden lath or similar device on a pegboard as shown in FIG.3.

The usefulness of the jar/adapter/tray assembly is exhibited when theentire assembly is rotated somewhat greater than 90 degrees from thevertical and the contents of jar pours into the display and sorting tray30. The entire assembly is then laid down flat on a horizontal surfacefor sorting.

The display and sorting tray 30 is so constructed that the sides flareout from the adapter 60 in order to make the display and sorting traywider, thereby facilitating the display and sorting process. After thedesired item is removed from the display and sorting tray, theusefulness of the entire jar/adapter/tray assembly is further evidencedby the ease with which displayed items from the jar can be reinsertedinto the jar. This is accomplished by rotating the entire assembly fromthe vertical between 45 and 75 degrees back towards the vertical. Asthis rotation occurs, the contents of the tray proceed through thefunneling effect of the adapter 60 and into the jar.

The best mode for making and using the integrated adapter/display andsorting tray is to injection mold the device in one piece and attach itto a jar. The display and sorting tray is so constructed such the bottomof the tray is slightly rounded and the sides curve approximately onethird of the way up the sides of the adapter. The tray further containsa lip on the far end suitable for suspending the entire jar/adapter/trayassembly from a lath on a pegboard. The tray flares out slightly fromthe opening in the “lid” so that more display and sorting surface isavailable. The opening in the “lid” of the adapter is positioned alongthe bottom surface of the adapter such that

1. An integrated adapter and display tray assembly that is connected tothe mouth of a container, and which has an opening in the adapter thatallows the contents of the container to pass through said adapter and bedisplayed in the tray.
 2. An integrated adapter and display trayassembly as in claim 1 where the adapter comprises threads that allowthe adapter to be screwed on to a jar or similar container.
 3. Anintegrated adapter and display tray assembly as in claim 1 where theadapter comprises raised dimples that allow the adapter to be snapped onto a container.
 4. An integrated adapter and display tray assembly as inclaim 1 that comprises a lip at its outermost end such that saidassembly can be hung from a shelf or lath.
 5. An integrated adapter anddisplay tray assembly as in claim 1 that comprises a tray that flaresoutward from the adapter to provide more display area for the tray.